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Is 

/<^/^ SHORES OF HAPPINESS 

A PAGEANT WHEREOF ODYSSEUS IS HERO 



BY 
FRANCES O. J. GAITHER 



Copyright, 1919 

By Frances O. J. Gaither 

For acting rights apply to author 



MiQ '^ ^^'^ 



SHORES OF HAPPINESS 

A PAGEANT WHEREOF ODYSSEUS IS HERO 



BY 

FRANCES O. J. GAITHER 



Copyright, 1919 

By Frances O. J. Gaither 

For acting rights apply to author 






©OLD 52417 



CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY 



The God Poskidon. 

The Goddess Athene. 

Sea-Nymphs. 

EuRYMEDUSA, nurse to Nausicaa. 

Laodamas, son of Alcinous and Arete. 

Nausicaa, the princess, daughter of Alcinous and Arete. 

A Bevy of Gires. 

HAEIUS i r A, • J A . 

Ceytoneus [ '°"' °^ Alcinous and Arete. 

Odysseus. 

PoNTONous, a page. 

Arete, queen of Phaeacia. 

Aecinous, king of Phaeacia. 

Pages. 

Phaeacians. 

Athletes. 

Judges. 

Dancers. 

Euryalus, an athlete. 

Demodocus, the blind bard. 

Oarsmen. 



SHORES OF HAPPINESS 



{The scene is before the palace of Alcinous in the laud 
of Phaeacia. There passes a chorus of Phaeacian folk 
singing of a raft descried at sea. When their voices 
have died away, the god Poseidon appears. He waves 
his trident, causing sea-nymphs to come with dancing 
steps from every direction, the stress of the sea in 
their movements. Poseidon moves among them, 
whirling his trident above his head. Just as the dance 
has become very \turbulent, the goddess Athene ap- 
pears between the tall columns at the head of the 
steps. At sound of her lance struck suddenly against 
her shield, the nymphs are startled into immobility.) 

ATHENE 

Hold, Poseidon, Shaker of Shores! Still the sea that 
Odysseus may drift in upon the white sands. 

POSEIDON 

Odysseus! Never shall seas be calm for him. Rather 
shall I gather clouds, stir the passions of the deep, sum- 
mon Eurus and Notus and Zephyrus and Boreas to loose 
mighty tempests from the heavens. Sands, indeed! No, 
goddess, upon rocks shall Odysseus be pounded. 

(He lifts his trident to the nymphs, but Athene com- 
ing down, strikes it down with her lance. She 
smiles.) 

ATHENE 

I say he shall not. Upon the smooth beach even now 
is he standing and a princess serves him. 

[5] 



POSEIDON 

A princess? 

ATHENE 

Even Nausicaa of these your beloved Phaeacians. 

POSEIDON 

(Threatening her with his trident.) 
You have done this? 

ATHENE 

Father Zeus decreed it. I merely arranged the details. 
(Poseidon throws down his trident in anger and dis- 
perses the nymphs with a gesture of furious despair. 
He follows them. Athene 'leaves the steps still smil- 
ing and goes to stand apart. Eurymedusa comes out 
of the palace and looks off down the road that leads 
to the seashore. She is a bent old woman, as wrinkled 
as parchment, and, zvhen she would descend the steps, 
must steady her rheumatic leg with careful hand. She 
shakes her head querulously when she sees no one, 
coming, and hobbles down another step or two to look 
again. She mutters continually.) 

EURYMEDUSA 

In my youth it would never have been permitted, girls 
going off down the beach for the whole day! Folly, 
folly! What will it lead to, all this indulgence? What 
do parents expect? "Father dear," (She mimics.) "could 
you not have a chariot harnessed for me, so that I may 
go to the seashore to wash out tunics for you to wear 
to the council? And, surely, you would count it shame 
if my brothers went to a dance wearing clothes that were 
not fresh." — So. Not a word of dreams and bridegrooms 1 

[6] 



And the doting parents — "anything, my darling child, 
anything you wish, mules, chariot, a chest of your fa- 
vorite dainties, wine in goatskin bottle, oil in a golden 
flask—" 

(Laodamas, a splendid, tall youth, emerges from the 
palace.) 

LAODAMAS 

Nurse, has my sister not come? 

EURYMEDUSA 

The gods alone know what keeps her. Maybe she 
has met that bridegroom she dreamed of last night. 
(Laodamas laughs and points where two girls come run- 
ning. Their hair is in disorder, and they shriek zvith laugh- 
ter as they sink dozvn on the steps before Biirymedusa.) 
Where is she? Where is Nausicaa? (They laugh and 
pant so that they can only shake their heads for answer and, 
finally, when Burymedusa shakes them angrily, try to pull 
away from her.) What have you done with the princess? 
(One of the girls points down the road and Laodamas 
runs lightly forth to look.) 

LAODAMAS 

Here she comes, old woman, with kirtle blowing and 
whip in air. (Then he shouts.) Ho, Halius ! Ho, Clyto- 
neus! Our sister is coming! 

(Nausicaa drives her chariot adorned with wreaths be- 
fore the palace. Beside her run a bevy of girls, their 
flowing hair garlanded in flowers. They carry 
branches of green which they wave as they run. La- 
odamas helps Nausicaa to dismount, kissing her upon 
the forehead.) 

[7] 



EURYMEDUSA 

How you have troubled me, perverse one ! 

LAODAMAS 

(Holding Nausicaa from him and teasing her.) 
And why so happy? Did you meet a god down there 
by the river? 

{Nausicaa struggles away from him and the girls laugh 
aloud. They crowd about Laodamas telling him 
about their adventure as Nausicaa goes up to embrace 
Burymedusa. Halius and Clytoneus come down to 
greet her. To each in turn she lifts a careless cheek, 
not interrupting in the smallest degree the animated 
narrative whith she begins for Burymedusa's imme- 
diate enlightenment. Nausicaa is not a talkative maid, 
but her tongue is loosed by the miraculous occasion 
and her swiftly gesticulating hands are set free as 
zvell. Her voice is lost in the chorus of girlish voices 
— "We had just been playing — " "Or still were — "' 
"Nausicaa threzv the ball—" "No, it was I — '' "He 
rose from the bushes — "" "Like the sun — '' "No, like 
a lion or a god — '' "You ran first — '' "I only 
screamed, you ran — ". The princes lead the chariot 
off, and the girls go upon the steps where they con- 
tinue to talk among themselves laughing and nodding.) 

NAUSICAA 

As I dreamed, so I met him, nurse. 

EURYMEDUSA 

Like a god, was he? Such a man as you never saw 
before? No, little one, any man would have appeared 
pleasing to a merry crowd of damsels. It was the blue 
sky and the silver beach that made him look so. 

[8] 



NAUSICAA 

But what of my dream? Did not Athene saj'- I should 
soon wed? 

EURYMKDUSA 

Wed! For shame to talk of wedding! A beggar whom 
you had to clothe ! shame, shame ! 

{The girls laugh, and Nausicaa slips from her detain- 
ing hand to dance upon the grass. It is a dance of 
joy to which Nausicaa yields, of joy and of the dawn 
of love. When it is ended she runs back to throw her 
arms about Eurymedusa.) 

NAUSICAA 

Shall a maid be ashamed of love, grumbling one? — 
But I know not whether it be love, even so. I was 
glad when I beheld him, and my heart sang to think it 
was I who should save his life there on the stark beach. 
{She draws a flower from her wreath and muses as she 
plucks it apart. Eurymedusa stares at her a moment 
and then turns within somewhat sadly. While Nau- 
sicaa sits on the steps plucking at her tllozver, the 
girls go dozvn and dance upon the grass and at last go 
into the palace looking back and calling her, "Nausi- 
caa! Nausicaa! Odysseus comes down the road from 
the seashore, and pauses when he sees her staring at 
the barren Hower stem in youthful trance. Athene 
steps forth and leads him toward the girl.) 

ODYSSEUS 



NAUSICAA 

(Springing to her feet and thrusting her flower behind 
her.) 
You! 

(They stand looking at each other. Athene vanishes.) 

ODYSSEUS 

You saved my life, and now by your direction I am 
here to ask the hospitaHty of your father and lady- 
mother. 

NAUSICAA 

(As if she had not heard.) 
Tell me — are you a god? 

ODYSSEUS 

I, a god? Not from you should such a question come 
to me. Rather should I ask what goddess are you, ap- 
pearing miraculously with food and clothes for ship- 
wrecked wanderer. 

NAUSICAA 

But the goddesses are beautiful — and tall. 

ODYSSEUS 

And do you not know your own loveliness? When 
I saw you standing there on the beach, your maidens 
fleeing in shrill abandon, I thought I had never seen a 
sight so lovely — but one time only. 

NAUSICAA 

And that? 

ODYSSEUS 

At Deles beside Apollo's altar I saw a young palm- 
shoot springing up. 

[10] 



NAUSICAA 

Ah! You thought of me like that? 

ODYSSEUS 

How else? And on the instant I thought, too, of how 
happy must be the father and mother of such a daughter 
— and the brothers, too, surely their hearts warm within 
them when they see you swaying like a blossom in the 
dance. 

NAUSICAA 

But of course one's own kindred — 

(She pauses vaguely ivith depreciating gesture.) 

ODYSSEUS 

I, too. In my heart, I envied them, and then I en- 
vied more the man who should some day come and lead 
you from your father's house to his own home. 

NAUSICAA 

You envied him? 

ODYSSEUS 

Yes. 

{Burymedusa appears at head of steps.) 

EURYMEDUSA 

Princess! 

{Nausicaa goes in, bending her head before the re- 
proaches of Burymedusa. Odysseus watches them. 
Then he mounts to head of steps and beats with his 
staff upon a column and shouts, ''Ho, within." The 
page Pontonous comes out to him.) 

[11] 



PONTONOUS 

What will you, stranger? 

ODYSSEUS 

Audience of King Alcinous and his honored Queen 
Arete. 

PONTONOUS 

But stand lower, sir. Alcinous and his court come 
now. 

(Pages bring through the doorway behind him three 
thrones, which they place upon the steps. Odysseus 
descends and stands waiting while the court ranges 
itself about the thrones. Attendants with lances and 
shields take their stand under the portico between the 
columns. Pages unroll a crimson carpet. Alcinous 
leads Arete to her throne. Her women follow and 
array themselves formally upon the steps. The sons 
of Alcinous stand behind the thrones. Alcinous, in- 
viting Laodamas by gesture to sit upon the middle 
throne and turning about to seat himself sees Odys- 
seus.) 

AI.CINOUS 

Whence comes this stranger? 

ODYSSEUS 

A wanderer, Alcinous, cast upon your shores by anger 
of Poseidon and saved from death by your daughter the 
princess. I come to ask of you and honored Arete, aid 
and comfort. 

(He prostrates himself before Arete, clasping her 
knees.) 

[12] 



ALCINOUS 

Rise, Laodamas, and seat the stranger. May he yet 
bless the wrath of Poseidon that hurled him on Phaea- 
cian sands. May these shores be the shores of happi- 
ness for you, O, stranger! We are a joyful folk and 
shall delight to make you joyful, too. Are you a god 
that you come wandering to far-off Phaeacia? 

ODYSSEUS 

(Sadly.) 
Call me not a god, Alcinous. Too well I know death 
to be named an immortal. But for chance I might now 
be lying where vultures sweep. There was once when 
I felt the cold spear pressing my breast — no, no, only a 
man, weary and sore hungry. 

LAODAMAS 

Where was this fight you speak of? 

ARETE 

(Rising.) 
Shall the host be greedy of tales while the guest hun- 
gers? Come, stranger. 

(She leads Odysseus ivithin, some of her women fol- 
lowing. Nausicaa comes out and stands behind her 
father, putting her hands before his eyes. He pulls 
them down about his neck, and she laughs as she 
comes before him. When she is seated cosily at his 
feet, her maidens come in whispering by twos and 
threes to sit upon the steps on either hand.) 

NAUSICAA 

How do you like my stranger? 
[13] 



MUCINOUS 

I have seen worse. 

NAUSICAA 

{Suddenly serious.) 
He has a far look in his eyes. Father, I know not 
whether it is what he has seen or what he longs to 
see. But it is as if he dreamed of other lands than 
Phaeacia. What if he will not stay? 

ALCINOUS 

Do you want him to stay? 



NAUSICAA 



Yes. 



ALCINOUS 

Then he shall change his dreams. Who can fail to be 
happy here? Who can dream of aught beside if Nau- 
sicaa, the white-armed, be his? Laodamas, and you, 
Halius and Clytoneus, send abroad through Phaeacia 
the summons to all young men and athletes. Games we 
shall have in honor of the stranger that he may lose 
that far look from his eyes. Call the dancers and those 
who wrestle. Assemble the nine grave judges who shall 
award the laurels. {His sons go off, follozved by attend- 
ants.) And do you, Pontonous, bring hither the sacred 
bard, Demodocus, the blind. In his songs may the stran- 
ger joy as in the very acts of valor, so like to life he 
sings of heroes' deeds. (Pontonous goes into the palace.) 
And we must have feasting. Let there be got ready for 
the sacrifice twelve sheep, eight white-toothed swine, 
two swing-paced oxen. Go damsels, bring fruit and flow- 
ers. (He turns within, follozved by the remaining attend- 

[14] 



ants. Nausicaa is left alone sitting on the steps before her 
father's vacant throne. Odysseus comes forth and stands 
looking down at hew. Without turning, she speaks.) 

NAUSICAA 

Did you mean what you said? 

ODYSSEUS 

About the palm-tree? 

NAUSICAA 

No, no. About envying him — because if you did, you 
need not. 

{Odysseus comes down and stoops to look into her 
face.) 

ODYSSEUS 

If I did, I need not — what? 

NAUSICAA 

Ah, must I say the syllables to you slowly as to a lit- 
tle child ! Envy, stranger, it is envy for which you have 
no need. Alcinous, my father, has said you may have 
all that you long for, present comfort and in time to 
come you would naturally share Phaeacia with my 
brothers. He says you shall come to bless the storm 
that tossed you on our shores. 

ODYSSEUS 

He offers me you? 

NAUSICAA 

(Nodding serenely.) 
Yes. 

(Odysseus gathers her extended palms into one of his 

[15 1 



own and lifts her to her feet. He looks into her up- 
turned eyes a moment and then turns his own away 
sadly. Suddenly he seems very old and zvorn beside 
her rose-hued youth. He hesitates long before he 
speaks.) 

ODYSSEUS 

Child, you do not understand. Alcinous decrees the 
impossible. 

{She tries to read his averted face.) 

NAUSICAA 

Then you did not mean it. You did not envy him 
whom I shall wed. 

ODYSSEUS 

Listen, Nausicaa. You love Phaeacia. To you it is 
the land of happiness. {She nods.) What Phaeacia is to 
you, so is Ithaca to me. 

{She studies his rapt face.) 

NAUSICAA 

Ithaca is your home, then. Is it so fair as Phaeacia? 
Has it tranquil orchards and lush meadows? Do curved- 
prowed ships ride on the still bosom of its harbor? Do 
tall men and lovely women move gladly among high- 
roofed houses? In Ithaca does the west wind breathe 
on the fruits so that some are mellow while some are 
yet in bud? I will not believe that anywhere but Phaea- 
cia does pear ripen upon pear and fig upon fig — 

ODYSSEUS 

Ithaca is my home. 

[16] 



NAUSICAA 

But not so fair as Phaeacia. 

ODYSSEUS 

More rugged, a land of clififs and thick woods, a land 
far seen, lifting gaunt headlands against the western sky. 
Oh, Nausicaa, I have traveled far, but no sweeter spot 
have I seen than my own land. 

NAUSICAA 

And will the people welcome you and make you merry 
with games and feasting such as my father has ordered 
in your honor? 

ODYSSEUS 

Sterner deeds wait to be done in Ithaca — but, Nau- 
sicaa, can you not see that in such things, rather than 
in merry-making, a man might hope to forget? 

NAUSICAA 

Forget? 

ODYSSEUS 

{Standing away from her and drawing himself to his 
full height.) 
I am Odysseus. I saw Ilium fall. 

{Before this, Nausicaa seetned almost on the point of 
understanding him, but at this revelation her youth- 
ful excitability gets the better of her. She forgets 
her own sadness and Odysseus' love of home. Even 
the grievous sadness with which he speaks has no 
meaning for her now. She clasps her hands to her 
breast and gazes at him with worshipping joy. It is 
as if she exulted in this proof of all her intuitions 
about the greatness of the stranger.) 

[17] 



NAUSICAA 

Odysseus! What stories you can tell us at the feast! 
You talk of forgetting — but that is just your modesty. 
All heroes are modest. You shall tell us everything — 
how Achilles looked in his god-like armor; and how the 
Greeks leaped from the wooden horse and dashed 
through the streets; and how the plumed head of Mec- 
tor was laid low. I shall tell no one who you are until 
Demodocus has sung your fame. {She runs up the steps 
and pauses at the top, lifting her arms.) You shall forget 
your home-sickness in games, and then you shall see 
what Phaeacia thinks of a hero ! 

{Odysseus puts out his hand as if to stop her and then 

lets it fall again. He turns away as she vanishes 

through the door.) 

ODYSSEUS 

A child, simply. She dreams not what war does to 
women. If it were not cruel I might name to her Cas- 
sandra, Andromache, Mecuba. They knew, as does she 
who waits through weary nights — Penelope. 

{He sinks upon the center throne and takes small ac- 
count of the activity and hustle that begins about 
him. The Phaeacian populace assembles to the sound 
of gay music and much talk. The twelve Phaeacian 
kings with their attendants range themselves upon the 
steps. Torch bearers mount the pedestals of the bal- 
ustrade on either hand, colored streamers looping the 
torch of each with that of his fellow. Girls come 
from the palace with dancing steps. They carry Hozv- 
ers which figure in their dance and in the subsequent 
festal effect, garlanded columns, scattered petals, and 

[18] 



the like. Athletes come up from the throng and 
gather in knots. The judges arrive. Pages hustle 
about at everybody's heck and call. — Through it all, 
Odysseus sits thoughtful and curiously alone in the 
midst of the rejoicing folk. The music changes to a 
processional and the court of Alcinous comes out of 
the palace, Alcinous leading Arete to her throne as 
before. His sons are hailed from the athletes on the 
ground, "Ho, Laodamas! Ho, H alius! Ho, Clyto- 
neus!" Alcinous stills the chattering groups with 
lifted hand.) 

ALCINOUS 

Hearken, Phaeacian Captains and Councilors, a stran- 
ger has come to our shores (Odysseus bows in acknowl- 
edgment), and it is fitting that we make games and re- 
joicing in his honor. Let us revel in the feast, the harp, 
the dance, as is our wont, that he may bless the wrath 
of Posseidon that cast him among the happy Phaeacian 
folk. Go, fetch Demodocus and his tuneful lyre. 

{Pontonous springs to obey, and leads Demodocus forth 
from behind one of the great columns of th portico. 
The hard is blind and follows the page haltingly. 
When they have come to the center of the steps below 
Odysseus' chair^ Demodocus sits down, Pontonous 
placing the harp beside him and guiding his fingers 
to the strings. He sings of magic Phaeacia.) 



[19] 



A Song op Phaeacia. 

With kin of gods, come live in Phaeacia, where 
A heavenly magic warms to ripeness pear on pear, 

Where deep are harbors, trim are ships. 

And high are palisades. 

Where every day too quickly slips 

In joy for men and maids. 

Chorus. 

Such a sunlight on the green 

Surely cries for dancing. 
Such a breeze can only mean, 

"Follow me and dance !" 

Let others toil and fret their lives away, — 

In pleasant Phaeacia we have found a better way: 

So gay the feast, so glad the song. 

So swift the twinkling feet, 

That Phaeacian hours seem half as long, 

And every hour is sweet. 

(During the first lines of the song, Nausicaa steals 
through the crowd between the columns and comes 
down to stand listening enthralled. As Demodocus 
sings on, she looks up to see if Odysseus is moved. 
She sees his abstraction relax until, at end of the 
song, he is smiling at her. When the song is over 
A herald mounts the steps and summons the athletes 
to the various events. Nausicaa leads Demodocus to 
one side and sits down by him.) 



[20] 



HERALD 

Ho, Laodamas! Ho, Halius ! Ho, Clytoneus ! (As 
they come down, he turns back to populace.) Ho, Acro- 
neus, Ocyalus, Elatreus, Nanteus, Prymneus, Anchialus, 
Eretmus, Ponteus, Proreus, Thoon, Anabasimeus, Am- 
phialus, — Ho, all ye Phaeacian athletes ! Stand upon 
the mark and see which shall be fleetest in the foot-race. 

(The judges stand in their places and even Alcinous 
rises from his throne with interest. The people elbow 
each other for room upon the margin of the course, 
cheering their favorites. When Clytoneus has won, 
the other athletes bring him back upon their shoul- 
ders, a shouting throng pressinig close behind. The 
judges confer, and Alcinous crowns him with laurel, 
the herald proclaiming him victor. At sound of mu- 
sic, the crowd falls back, and dancing-girls come 
dozvn and dance a mimicry of the games. Then fol- 
low javelin-throwing, relay racing, discus-throwing, 
with the same ceremony. At discus-throwing Ela- 
treus is winner and at boxing, Laodamas. After the 
award for discus-throzving is made, Buryalus speaks 
to Laodamas.) 

EURYALUS 

The stranger whom the games honor appears not over- 
pleased with them. Challenge him if he can do better. 

LAODAMAS 

(Shouting.) 
Stranger, will you come down and try for glory with 
us? 

[21] 



ODYSSEUS 

(Shaking his head sadly.) 
Your challenge mocks my sorrow, Laodamas. I have 
suffered too much to have a heart for games. 

EURYALUS 

(Laughing.) 
I thought as much. You look less like an athlete than 
some trader whose mind is taken up with cargoes and 
filthy gains. 

(Odysseus rises and measures with his eye the impu- 
dent youth mocking him from the ground.) 

ODYSSEUS 

And you — well, the gods have fashioned you an ex- 
cellent appearance, but your words betray the quality of 
your brain ! 

(As everybody laughs, and Buryalus turns with a shrug, 
Odysseus comes quickly down the steps and seises 
the discus. From the radius of his powerful arm, 
the spectators and athletes draw away. Nausicaa 
rises to see the better. The discus goes far ahead of 
the mark scored by Blatreus, and the croivd bursts 
into cheers. Alcinous advances to lead Odysseus back 
to his seaty apologizing in low tones for Burylus' un- 
mannerliness.) 

ALCINOUS 

(Aloud.) 
Come, Euryalus, you shall give satisfaction to the 
stranger by word and gift for your unmannerly taunt. 
(Euryalus conies forward and offers a sword, "brazen, 
zvith hilt of silver and sheath of fresh-cut ivory.") 

[22] 



EURYALUS 

May the winds bear away my rude words ! 

(Odysseus bows and accepts the sword. The athletes 
applaud. Alcinous calls, ''And now the dance!" 
Halius and Laodamas dance with a purple ball. 
When they have finished, pages and damsels, moving 
to music, bring -flowers, platters of fruit and food, 
silver flagons of wine, to the twelve kings and the 
athletes reclining on the lower steps. Others serve 
Alcinous, Arete, and Odysseus on their thrones.) 

ALCINOUS 

Sing, Demodocus, sing! There is no sauce like a sweet 
song. 

(Nausicaa leads the singer back to his central place 
before Odysseus. He gropes vainly for his harp.) 

DKMODOCUS 

What shall I sing? 

NAUSICAA 

(Bending over him to guide his fingers.) 
Sing of Ilium and of him whose cunning brought about 
its fall. 

Song of Odysseus. 
Who crosses the plain where corpses lie? 
It is a slinking Trojan spy 
In wolfskin prowling over the dead, 
His javelin ready, his helm on head. 

He stops, he trembles in deadly fright, 
The clink of armor sounds in the night. 
Odysseus then he dimly sees — 
And with him brave Diomedes. 

[23] 



With crafty word and many wiles, 
Odysseus the man beguiles: 
"Take heart, truly of Troy's allies. 
Where encamped, their strength, and their planning, 
likewise." 

Thus cunning from witless much knowledge does hear 
Ere he slays the fool and bestrips him of gear. 
Ere speaking lips with dust are a-hush 
And helmet swings from tamarisk bush. 

Odysseus, of the hardy heart. 

Of all has heard a single part; 

That of Rhesos' horses so swift and so white. 

His chariot fair and his armor bedight. 

Though night is awane and the dawn glimmers nigh, 
He burns to follow the heron's cry 
To Thracians sleeping in rows on the ground, 
By every man his horses well-bound. 

See midmost are the coveted, glorious pair 

Of Rhesos, alert and so wondrously fair! 

Then swords with desire run a swift, scarlet race. 

And deal a sure death to the men of Thrace — 

The horses quiver. They sniff the dead. 

To tread their lords they are sorely afraid. 

Odysseus, with bow of might, 

Subdues them, driving them through the night. 

(As Deniodociis sings, Odysseus looks first horror- 
stricken and then crushed. Tozvard the end, he 
drazi's his cloak before his eyes and sits sunk in grief. 

[24] 



When the song is over, and a page has led Demodociis 
in, Alcinous touches Odysseus' arm.) 

ALCINOUS 

Why do you grieve, stranger? These things are now 
past. The gods brought death to men in those days that 
we, sitting happy at the banquet, might have a song of 
glory. 

(He tries to drazv Odysseus' cloak away from his eyes. 
Odysseus rises and slowly lowers his arm from his 
haggard face. With bozued head he speaks.) 

ODYSSEUS 

I am Odysseus. (The Phaeacians take the announcement 
as did Nausicaa. There is the beginning of cheer. The 
athletes start forward in enthusiasm. Odysseus checks the 
tide of excitement.) At Ilium I fought as a man 
must. What was to be, I endured. But to be sung a 
hero now, that I cannot endure. 

NAUSICAA 

But you are a hero. Look how the Phaeacians long 
to honor you and make you happy. 

LAODAM AS 

(Mounting the steps toward Odysseus by enthusiastic 
leaps followed by Halius and Clytoneus.) 
Forbear modesty, Odysseus. Give us the story of 
Ilium. 

PHAEACEANS 

The story! The story! 

[25] 



LAODAMAS 

Pity youths who have not seen the glorious deeds on 
the plains of Ilium! Like nurselings we can but stam- 
mer the heroic tale. Only Damodocus' songs have we. 
You had the rumble of chariot wheels, the flash of ar- 
mor, the splendid facing of death. 

PHAEACEANS 

Odysseus! The story! 

EAODAM AS 

We play at games of war. You fought beside Aga- 
memnon. 

{Girls in double columns come down opposite sides of 
the steps zvith shields and spears. They pause on the 
steps and threaten each other with weapons. Then 
they descend to the grass and dance the glory of bat- 
tle. All zvatch eagerly except Odysseus who covers 
his face with his hands. When it is over, Alcinous 
turns to Odysseus.) 

AIvCINOUS 

Surely not to the victor does the tale of war bring 
sorrow. 

ODYSSEUS 

Alcinous, of war there is but one vision for victor and 
vanquished, a vision of the happiness of women blighted 
by death. 

(Nausicaa understands at last. She conies down and 
dances on the grass, a dance of the cruetly of war. 
When it is ended she goes to sit at her mother's feet. 
Arete puts her arm about her and they both bend to- 
ward Odysseus.) 

r26l 



ARETE 

It is the women who suffer most in wars? 

(Odysseus comes down several steps, standing before 
Arete.) 

ODYSSEUS 

Men only die, but women wait. Oh, Penelope. (The 
name bursts from him as if agaijist his will.) 

NAUSICAA 

Penelope? 

ODYSSEUS 

Her I left when I sailed for Ilium. 

NAUSICAA 

Ah, in Ithaca. (He nods.) She is divinely fair? 

ODYSSEUS 

Fair? No, there are many fairer, but she is — Penelope. 
(Nausicaa drazvs her mother doivn and whispers to 
her pleadingly. Arete, assenting, rises.) 

ARETE 

Let US send Odysseus home, Alcinous, to Ithaca, where 
Penelope waits even as I for you were the Phaeacians 
warriors. (Nausicaa comes around and stands beside her 
father, coaxing him.) 

AECINOUS 

(To Odysseus.) 
I had thought you would find happiness here. (He 
looks up fondly at Nausicaa.) 

[27 1 



ODYSSEUS 

Phaeacia is a land of fair pleasures, but for the war- 



weary- 



NAUSICAA 



I understand. Before Ilium he might have been happy 
here. 

ARETE 

It is the shores of the homeland he longs for, Alci- 
nous, the rough familiar crags of Ithaca where wait for 
him homely duties and his Penelope. 

{At her speech a light breaks over Odysseus' face 
which Nausicaa scrutinizes now with perfect under- 
standing, tinged with sadness.) 

ALCINOUS 

(Rising so that he stands, too, beside Odysseus.) 
Hearken, ye Phaeacian Captains and Councilors, our 
guest longs for other shores than these, and I, your 
lord, say he shall not long in vain. (N'atisicaa looks 
proudly up at her father as he speaks.) Launch a lofty 
ship, fit the oars into their leathern slings, spread the 
white sail. By the magic of our seamen, Odysseus shall 
tomorrow be in Ithaca. 

ARETE 

Shall the guest leave Phaeacia empty-handed, Alci- 
nous? 

ALCINOUS 

Go, bring gifts to load the vessel. Ye sceptered kings 
bring presents commensurate with your rank; spotless 
tunics, talents of gold, and brazen tripods. Then will 

[28] 



Odysseus bless Phaeacia and the ship that bears him 
home. 

ARETE 

And I will have my women store the vessel with bread 
and ruddy wine and deck its high-curving prow with 
garlands. 

LAODAMAS 

I will summon the oarsmen. 

(All go off, the dancing girls gathering up the Howers 
from the steps and the pages carrying the thrones 
inside. When they are all gone, Odysseus is left 
standing alone. Nausicaa has gone above him and 
stands half hidden by one of the columns. Girls 
come down and dance a fragment of their early 
dance, this time zvist fully. Odysseus is so intent on 
the road that- leads seaward that he does not heed 
them. They go zvithin, and Nausicaa calls, "Odys- 
seus!" He does not hear her. Oarsmen approach 
singing, and he starts with a happy gesture toward 
them. As they pass, he follows them a little way 
until he is checked where the steps end. Even zvhen 
Nausicaa speaks his name again, he is still absorbed 
in his far vision of the oarsmen. Poseidon appears 
with his nymphs who dance the gentle movements of 
the calm seas for a brief moment and then go off. 
Athene appears between the central columns of the 
portico.) 

ATHENE 

Odysseus ! 

(He turns, but she has disappeared. Only Nausicaa is 
standing there with hand extended.) 

[29 1 



NAUSICAA 

Odysseus, farewell ! 

(Odysseus comes to her and kneels.) 

ODYSSEUS 

Farewell, princess ! Zeus grant you long life in Phaea- 
cia, the fairest land I have seen in my wanderings. 

NAUSICAA 

(A little sadly.) 
Not fairer than Ithaca. 

ODYSSEUS 

For you, Nausicaa, because you are young, and for 
the unscarred youth who will some day come as you 
dreamed last night. 

(She shakes her head at that, but smiles up at him 
bravely before she turns away. He zvatches her go, 
and she looks back over her shoulder to smile again. 
At top of the steps, she turns zvith a gesture of fare- 
well, but he has already faced about to watch another 
group of oarsmen going down to the seashore singing 
the refrain of their song. When Nausicaa has gone 
inside the palace, the rest of the court comes out to 
sound of processional music, and the populace gathers 
below in pageant formation, groups bearing tripods 
and vases aloft, robes, gay silk banners, chests, trays 
of fruit, leather bottles of wine, garlands and baskets 
of flowers, one group playing on pipes, another lead- 
ing a heifer decked with garlands. Group after 
group pauses before the steps and offers its gifts to 
Oydsseus before taking its place in mass formation. 

[30] 



The flower girls enter dancing a few measures of 
their dance, the oarsmen singing the refrain of their 
song. Before Odysseus they sing the whole.) 

The Oarsmen's Song. 

To sea we shall slip as on magical wings, 

Decks apile with riches in bales. 
Then launch the black ship, fit the oars in their slings, 

Fling aloft the white, spreading sails. 

Refrain 

Toss up the spray with a vigorous oar, 

Toss up the bright, briny spray. 
Speed the swift ship to the beckoning shore, 

Speed her afar on her way. 

When sails are afling, and the oars all agree. 

Taut are muscles, miles race behind. 
'Tis sweet then to sing with the lift of the sea, 

Steer by stars and fly in the wind. 

(A page brings a gold cup to Alcinous. He takes it 
and holds it aloft as he speaks.) 

AECINOUS 

Take my cup, Odysseus, in token of my wish that our 
seamen shall land you safely on Ithacan shores. There 
may you forget the strife that haunts you. 

ODYSSEUS 

(Taking the cup.) 
Grant Alcinous' wish and bless the kindly Phaeacians, 
O, Athene ! 

(He holds the cup on high and pours a libation as he 

[31] 



prays. When the stream of wine pours from the 
cup, Athene appears between the columns; and the 
people fall back on either hand and drop to their 
knees, Odysseus at the feet of the goddess.) 

ATHENE 

The gods are mindful of Phaeacia. It is you, Odys- 
seus, whom I would bless. I would bring you again to 
Ithaca where you who have looked on death may see 
again the homely sights, the early sun on the gaunt 
crags, the swineherd husbanding your flocks. You are 
war-weary, but duties invite where pleasures only pall. 
Go, take ship for home and Penelope. 

(There is the sound of music, a glad but stately pro- 
cessional, and Odysseus \rises zvith transfigured face to 
follow where Athene's lifted arm suggests. At bot- 
tom of the steps he pauses and seems about to speak, 
lifting his arm as did Athene. But, silent and still 
radiant, he lowers his arms and goes off. Behind 
him, group by group, the pageant forms and follows 
toward the sea. Athene is left alone. When the last 
of the pageant is moving away, she comes slowly 
down.) 



[ 32 



